Kathy Freston on Her 'Quantum Wellness Cleanse'

May 5, 2009

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If you are a steady drinker and you give up alcohol, you
will likely experience the stress and anxiety that you were
trying to blot out with the wine or vodka or what have you.
My advice is to take this opportunity to gently and with great
compassion for yourself face the very things you've been running
from and maybe think about dealing with them in a
whole new way. If an old trauma is weighing on you, you
might want to check out a support or fellowship group; learn
to meditate and exercise to renew the feel-good chemicals—
dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins—that your brain naturally
produces. As you learn to face your demons, whatever
they may be, you will see that they are not as omnipotent as
you thought they were. (However, if your relationship with alcohol
is at all problematic for you I urge you to get support.)
You will tap into an inner reserve of serenity (I will help you
along the way) while finding that you are part of something
larger that wants your healing to occur. This "flow" of healing
energy will make itself known if you want it to.

Even if you are only a social drinker (like me), not having
a drink with friends at a festive dinner can be challenging.
You want to fit in and enjoy yourself just like everyone
else; but this discomfort will be short-lived as you realize
you don't need alcohol to relax and feel at ease. The more
present you are to the conversation, the less you will crave
the comfort of a drink. Changing our habits is shaky business
at first, as habits come about because they provide
some sense of security and regularity in the face of anxiety.
But the more you lean in to the discomfort, instead of running
from it or grabbing another drink, as long as you have
a willingness to breathe through the difficult feelings, you
will become more and more free to live at the highest levels
of wellness.